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llfotiurtion of Ulmrrhfji. 



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DliH'KSK OF SUl Til ('AI{(»Ll.\A. 

DURING THE LATE WAR. 

I'RF.SKNTKn T.i TIIK 

^h-otc5t;iut (L-pi5rop;il (CouDciition. 



ClI A i; I, KSTON : 
J«»SKI'1I W At.KKi:. 8TATIONKU ANIi I'IMNTKi; 

No. I. lUOAD MT 

isr.s. 



ll f p r f of ff .0 m miii!: t 

Til llH.I-Kl r INKDKM M liiN iiiMKItMMi 

OtSIflUCIIOi OF CHURCHES AND CHORCHPeOPmy 

IN TlIK DKK-KSE OF SUITII (Ah'oLIXA. 



Till- Conuniltco to whom was rolorroil ilu' iliity of gjillioiinLC 
int'ormalion witli roi;ui'il to tlic (Instruction oft 'Imrilios ami hos 
of Cluircli Propoi-ty during the war, iicg leave to Ueport : 

That they have discharged the trust coniniittcd to Iheni as 
aeciirateiy as they eouhl. It has ref|iiired nuicli ])ationce and 
i)ei"severanee to obtain definite information as to the condition 
of mail)- of the Chiirciies which lay in the tracdc of the invader. 

That fiei-ce tornado whicii swcjil over our Stale from itssoutli- 
western to its nortli-eastern borders, leaving the ashes of cities, 
an<l villages, and Churches, and homesteads to mark its desola- 
ting track, so uprooted the foundations of our social and domes- 
tie life, as sometimes to leave few survivors to tell the tale. Tin- 
destruction ot railroads, tlu' absence of jiostofliccs, the loss of 
Church Records, and the removal of those membci*s of the con- 
gregation who were familiar with their ])arochial history, have 
often rendered it exceedingl\- ditHcnIt to obtain information au- 
thentie enough to embody in this rejiort. 

But the Committee believe that they have :it last succeeded 
in their efforts to present a true and a<-curate statement. 

They begin with the Churches in the southwestern portion id" 
the diocese, and will trace their history geographically in the 
order of Sb<'nii:in's march. 

St. I'ktf.r's CinRf'ii, Rohkutvm.i.e. — Was the oidy Episcopal 
(.'hurch in that parish. It was a new Church, built in 1859. ot 
woml. It was burnt by the Federal army in January, 18(i."). to- 
gether with the residences of every member of the congregation. 



The .siiiull congregation ]i;is buc}i ciitii'(-'ly disper.scd. There i:^ 
neither building, nor minister, nor pcojilc. The C'hiireh may le 
considered dead. 

St. Luke's Paeisii. — Tlie Church ot the Holy Trinity, Gru- 
hamville, escaped with the destruction of its oi-gan and furni- 
ture, and some injury to chancel and jiews. Its parsonage was 
burnt with the greater portion of the towni. Only five dwelling 
houses escaped the torch. A portion of the congregation Iiavc 
returned, but almost every member is in a state of bankruptcj"- 
The systematic destruction of houses, barns, buildings, and 
fences around the rich man's estate, and the poor man's cabin, 
forbid any prosjiect of speedy restoration to this jiortion of the 
country. 

The recent dealii of their long-esteemed Pastor has a<ldetl to 
their calamities. J]y the action of our J)iocesan Missionary 
Society, the remnant of this t-'hurch is supplied with missionary 
services monthly. 

The CiirRoii at IjLuffton has a similar history to its 
sister Church in this parish. It was not involved in the 
destruction of the town, being protected from the flames by its 
beautiful grove of oaks. But the dispersion of the population, 
with the poverty of the few remaining families, has caused a 
suspension of religious services. The Rector, the Eev. James 
Stoney, after trj-ing in vain to revive the parish, has been com- 
pelled to leave the diocese for want of support. The Church is, 
therefore, suspended. 

The Church on Hilton Head, a chapel of ease to St. Luke's 
Parish, has entirel}' disappeared. It was a wooden structure, 
not of much value. The materials, it is believed, were removed 
by the negroes in order to build houses for themselves on that 
island. 

This ajipcars t<i have been the fate with manj- of the chapels 
built by the planters all around Beaufort, for the religious bene- 
fit of their people. C!hapels and materials liave both disap- 
peared, probably with the same destination. 

St. Helena Church, I'eaufort. — Established in 1712, one 
of the oldest Churches in the State, has had a varied experience 
of the changes through which we have passed. I'pon the cap- 
ture of Port Royal in November, 1861, the entire population of 



IkmiiIoi'I iK'il liiiiii ilu-ir lionii's, iiii'liidin;; I'vcry laiiiilv tnmu't-- 
U'd with llie Cliuirli. Tin- KimIitjiI lori'ivs coiiviTtcil llm luiilil- 
iiig into n liosjiilal, rcinovod the pows ami i;alli'ric>i, ami llcii)ri'<l 
it nrross so as to form a secoml story. 

Dr. Walker, for torty years the veiu'ruleil Hec-lor ot the 
Church, hii.s retiirnei! to his home, ami oflieiated in the Icetiire 
room to a small remnant ui' his former flock. The confiscation 
of the property of .St. Helena Parish, hy acts of Conj^ress, has 
reduced this conj^reijation to more than ordinary destitution. 
They can neither rejiair their Chui-eh nor support their Hector. 
The Domestic Board of Missions has jtlaced Dr. Walker ujjon 
th?ir lists of missionaries, and thus enahled him to resume his 
ministry; and the aiil of friends has partially restored the 
Church, so that it can now he used for worship. The Rector 
and remnant of this jiarish must needs recall the years when St. 
Helena Church, in jimportion to numhors, stoo<| yiV.s^ among the 
donors to the cause of missions in the United States. It has 
contiibuted more than wealth to (iod's house. The late 
beloved bishop of (leoi^ia. Stki'IIEN KM.ioTr, went out from this 
devoted altar, to consecrate his lofty intellect and capacious 
heart to Christ. ,\nd ten or twelvi- other ministers of our 
Church claim this Church as their spiritual hfiine. 

The Cili-'urii on ,St. IIki.kn.v Isi.anh. also one of the cjld 
Churches of the diocese, was conipletel^- stripped of pew.s ancl 
furniture, and is now in the hands»o( the .Methodists. It i.S used 
by the freedmen, who constitute the sole i>opulation of the island, 
as a place for their meetini^s. It may he considered dead. 

SiiK.r.KoN- Cm iKii. I'liiNCF. Wii.T.iAMs' I'Autsii. — It has been 
thefateof this venerable Church to pass ihrouj^h two revolufionH, 
and to experience the same fortune in each. It was burnt -'by 
the IJritish in 17S0. on their march from Savannah to Charles- 
ton,:"* and it was burnt accain by the I'nited States army on 
their march from .Savannah to Charleston in 1SC5. It had jire- 
viously been Ktrip|)eil of pews and furniture by the negroc.s. 
All that was combustible was consumed, except the roof, which 
wa.s above the reacii of fire; and its massive walls survive the 
last as they did the former contlajjralion. 

From 17.S0 to 1830 it remained desolate. The writer can 
remember how an oak tree which grew in the centre of the ven- 



I'l'alilc jiik' fillc'l llu' inU'rior. and lliruw ils juiiiik' liraiKliuis over 
tlio lolly walls, while ;i cedar sfn'aiii; IVoiu the eliaiiccl recess, 
and hyssop and ivy coated the ruin with green. It was rebuilt 
about 1830, and lias been a living parish up to the early part of 
the war. Its services wore suspended b}' the death of its valued 
Hector, ll(.'v. Edward Eced. May it rise once more from its 
ruins to become a temple of the living God. 

TiiK Mission Chapel, in the same parish, built by Ivev. S. 
Elliott for the negroes on the Combahcc, was taken down by 
yiierman's troops in order to build a bridge over that river. 
The materials were visible last year in the bridge. 

It was Mr. Elliott's design to revive his Church among the 
colored population, to whom he had been preaching the gospel 
for thii-tj' years. Our Diocesan Board of Missions had encour- 
aged him to resume his work among the members of his former 
charge; but his unexpected death deprived the diocese of the 
labors of one of the most experienced African missionaries 
known to our Church. He had built this Chapel, and given his 
gratuitous services for many j-cars for the benefit of the African 
race. For this work he had a ]ieeuliar adaptation ; but his work 
has ceased, his congregation is scattered, and his Church des- 
troyed. What fruit he will find garnered up in another world, 
we know not. But when '-Etliiopia shall stretch out her hands 
unto God," some oi' her sable sons, we doubt not, will be given 
him for his liire. 

Asc'E.vsioN CiiUKCii, Combahee, which Mr. Elliott served in 
connection with his chapel, is in good repair, but not used for 
religious service. Very few of the congregation remain, and 
those who are attempting to plant in that vicinity, are not 
attached to the Episcopal Church. 

The Asiiepoo Church, St. Bartholomew's I'arish, partially 
survives — the frame is standing, but its weathcr-lioarding and 
flooring are entirely gone. Foster's troops used tliem to build 
a bridge over the river. Every planter's house has been burnt 
for miles around, and the population generally dispersed. A 
i\'\v men ai'c trying to plant the rice lands, Init no families have 
returned, nor have they the means of rebuilding Church or 
homes. 



CiiuisT Ciiiucii, Wii.TK.N. — This l>oiiutiriil luiililinn is simid 
iiii;, cmlioworod as ot'olil in ils voncnil'lo oiiks, luit ilN doors ai'o 
closed, mid its conirivicalioii siatlcrcd. The pows were in 
jinrl removed \<y tlio Conledcralcs, and liio l>uil<liM;; used as a 
foinniissaiy dej>ot. Tlic pleasant homes of the jilanler.s on tlie 
Kdisto iJiver were i;enerally luirnl in tlio march of the Federal 
troops. No white tiimily lives near the ('liur<h ; Irocdmen occii- 
j)y the lounlry, and inhal'il the oidy surviving mansion. .\ 
remnant of this coii;;refxalion iiavc settled ten miles below, 
wliero educated, and once wealthy men. may he seen plouj^liin^ 
their lands, and u'l'iudiuL; their corn, while their wives anti 
dau;;hters cook ancl wash. A missionary serviie once a month 
constitutes the extent of their reliiiious privileges. 

Cmitrii Fl.vts. — Thi-^ was a new imildini; erected I'}' the 
j)Ianters on the Stono, for the use of that jiortion of St. Paul's 
Parish cxlendini; aloni; the hanks of the river. It was 
hurnt l>y the Federal army on the 22cl l-V-hruary, 1865, ac(-i- 
dentally rather than intentionally. The troops set fire to a 
iieij^hhorintj house; the fire extended to the Church and ile- 
stroyed it. The Rector. I'ev. Joseph Scahrook, and tiimilj-, 
were at the same time driven from their home to seek shelter in 
Charleston. The Chun h may l>e considered extinct. 

St. P.vii.'s. Stonu, was repaired thurouichly in 1SG.3; was con- 
verted into a eommissary store hy Confederate troops m 18G+. 
beinjj not then used for divine service; the pew.s and Church 
furniture torn out and destro3-eil; its funds, of some three thou- 
sand dollars, were invested in Confederate scrip, and arc value- 
less. Its plate is in possession of the N'cstry of .St. I'jiurs. 
Summcrville. 

Thk CiiiRrn on Jimi.n -s Jsi,.^.ni) was entirely destroyed hy 
a disastrous fire which swept over the Island in tiie spring; of 
1864, consuinin-i many other huildiiiir* in its course. The fire 
is helicved to have hcen accidental. It is not known whether 
it originatcil in sonic of the Federal camps, or in the careless- 
ness of negroes. 

This C'hurch had also a considerahle fund, ahout $30,001), in- 
vested in stocks and bonds. The stocks are wortldcss, and it is 
estimated by its treasurer that 8'5.0()(l oidy can he realized from 
its bonds. Few iif tin- former residents have returned t" their 



homos, :iiid there is no present ])rospuct of reorganizing the 
congregation. The ])ecuniary losses of this parish, including 
('luirch, parsonage and funds, exceed those f)f any ntlier con- 
gregation in the diocese but o)ie. 

The Ciiuhch at Legareville. a summer resort ni' tiie ]jhinl- 
ers on tliis Ishmd, -was also i>urnt duriiig the war. The village 
was deserted when tlic Island was abandoned by the Clonfederale 
forces. On the return of peace the Church had disappeared. 
The mode of its destruction is not Icnowii. It ailds another 
item to the losses of the Parish. 

St. A.N'duew's I'.viu.sii. — This venerable Church, built in 170G, 
survives — but in the midst of a desert. Every residence but 
one, on the west bank of Ashley Iviver, was burnt simultaneously 
with the evacuation of Charleston, by the besieging forces from 
James Island. Many of these were historical homes in South 
Carolina; the abodes of retiiiement and hospitality for more 
than a century' past. The residence ot the Hector was embow- 
ered in one of the most beautiful gardens which nature and 
art can create — more than two hundred varieties of camelia, 
combined with stately avenues iif magnolia, to delight the eye 
even of European visitors. Iiut not a vestige remains, save the 
ruins of his ancestral home. 

The demon of civil war was let loose in this i'arish. But 
three residences exist in the whole .space between the Ashley 
and Stono rivers. Eire and sword were not enough. Family 
vaults were rifled, and the coffins of the dead forced 0])cn in 
pursuit of jilunder. 

It must be many years before the congregation can return in 
suflBcient numbers to rebuild their homes and restore the wor- 
,ship of frod.* 

James Isi>am).— The Church on James Island was accidentally 
destroyed during the siege of Charleston. It was between the 
Confederate lines. Some of our troops, amusing themselves in 
rabbit hunting, set fire to the grass in an old field. The fire 



* Note. — A clelet;ut(! to tliis C'oiivciitioii iiiforniti us that lie attfiidcd the 
recent ck'Ction at tills Church, and found three freedmen holding the jioll 
in the chancel, while a door of the Churcli, laid across the chancel rail, 
formed tlie table for the reception of votes. This needless desecration, it is 
hojied, will not be continued. 



ciMiiiiiiiiiiriiti-il willi lln- Clmrili :iiiii clival i-o^imI il. || wa-. u 
woodoii Imililin-x, ami iml n losily nno, Iml (piiU' siilKcifiil lor 
till' wants of tlio i-iiiii;iv;;atioii. TIk- I'arisli lias nciiliiT ( 'luiicli, 
I'oiigivjjatioii, ii(>r Kci'tor. 

Tlio Clmrihes in ClinrU'stim liavo sallVrcd tlii-ir vjiaio ul tli,' 
i-aluinities of war. in itroportiun to their pruxiiiiily to ilio cnc- 
inj''s liattorics on Morris Island. 

St. ificit.vKi.'s C'nt'Rrii. iho most SiMitliern Kpiscopal Cluircli 
in the i-ity, was exposed to peculiar daTij^or. Kor a year and a 
half its beautiful spire was a target for tlieir artillery. The 
])ubii<- liuiidings around were torn by shells aimed at it. The 
grave yard was ]douglie<l. and its monuments scarred by the 
bail.s so remorselessly rained upon it. Hul the lofty spire still 
lifts up its bead, a beacon to the homeward iiound mariner. 
Several shells ]ienetratcd the Church, destroying |iorlions of the 
interior. The roof, |)ews and floor sull'ered from the dangerous 
missiles. One struck the centre of the chanci-l wall and burst 
just within, tearing in pieces the carved panels of Knglisli oalc, 
with its e.xijuisile ])aintings, ami massive rails. Its fine organ, 
t ho gift, of our Hnglish ancestors more than a century since, was 
removed to a place of safety, and has been restored to the 
Church. IJut its chime of bells, one of the best in the country, 
was not so fortunate. Tiiey were sent to Columbia, and placed 
under a shed in the Stale House yard. The Feileral soldiers set 
fire to the shed, and the heat crackeil and desti'oyed the bells. 
The}' were ship|)cd to Kngland. and recast b}' the same tirm by 
whom they were manufactured a hundred years since. They 
have recently been restored to their place, and now invito our 
j>eople to iho house of God with their familiar sound, and bi-eak 
the otherwise painful silence of the Sabbath morn. These bells 
have known the vicissitudes of war. In the Revolution they 
were taken away and exposed for sale in Kngland. They were 
purchased by a .Mr. Iiyhineu. an English gentleman, and gener- 
ously restored to the Church. After calling our population to 
public worship for one hundred years, and giving utterance to 
the public joy or the public grief through that evetitlul ]ieriod, 
they perished in tlio second and more calamitous Hevolution 
through which our country has just ])assed. Their restoration 
to the old s[>iro was hailed with joy by our ciii/.ens, and the |ire- 



10 

si^rvalioii ol' tluil ii;riici;ful ^]iii-L'. a> wull as Uic vonci'ablo fhurcli 
ilscltj now the historic- chiurh of tlic dioecso. is a subject of de- 
vout gnititnde to our city and our State. 

St. PniLir's Church guttered more than St. Michael's, or any 
other in the city. The marks of twelve shells were visible, 
which hud penetrated the roof and walls. The costly ori;'an was 
irrejiarably damaged. Its lofty .spire escaped injury. It has 
been repaired, and is now regularly open for divine service. 
The injury to the church and organ will cost 1 he congregation 
eight thousand dollars. 

The iinancial condition of our diocese is illustralcd by a fact 
in the history of those two churches, the largest and wealth- 
iest in the State. St. Philiji's could not raise the amount neces- 
sary to make their church habitable, until the sura was 
advanced by an individual whose means had cscajicd the rava- 
ges of war. 

Nor could SI. Jlichael's pay the customhouse dues upon their 
l)ells, without the aid of jiublic suliscriptions. and vf)luntary 
concerts. 

Grace Ciiurcu was struck I)}- a single shell, but that jjrovcd 
a destructive one. It crushed one of the central columns and 
cracked the superincumbent walls up to the roof, tore away 
twelve ]iews, and cut the interior in many places. The injury 
was temporarily repaired by a wooden pillar. 

Soon after the evacuation of the city, this church was re-opened 
for service, and for a year it afforded to the Episcopalians of 
Charleston a place nf worship while our other sanctuaries laj' 
desolate. 

St. Lure .\nd St. Stephen's also received damage from shells 
iu roof anil walls. ]5nt Ihe^' have lieen re]iaired, and restored to 
their holj- uses. 

St. Peter's, Cii.\aLEST0.\. — This t'hurch was destroyed during 
the war, though not directly by it. It perished in the great 
cOTiflagration which swept over our city in December, 1861. It 
was founded in 1830, and formed the scene of the zealous minis- 
try of Eev. W. H. Barnwell. In zeal and good works this 
church was, tor thirty years, a burning and shining light to our 
diocese, and its influence lives though its light has perished. 



11 

Tlio (•oiii'ri''rcli(iii li:is ln'i'ii iliviclril aiiioiiir oiIkt cliiirclios. 
ami tliero seems to bo little |irosi)er-t of its revival in the iliiniii- 
i>ilie(l ixipiilation i>f our c-ity. li was insured Ibr ?20.()0() in 
(ieornia; Imt llio failure of the eoniiianii's in wliich llicy have 
vosteil their fiinils, rendei' the poliey useless. 

St. Miehael's, St. Paul's. Si. Peter's and (Jraee fhuuli, lost 
their eoniniunion jilute in whole or in part. It was sent to 
Colunibiii during tho sioijo of Charleston, and was cither stolen 
or destroyed in the hurning of that fily. Oni- jiiece of ante- 
revolutionary date, was imreha^ed in New York and restored 
to St. Michael's. Their Pai'ish IJei-ords irenerally shared the 
same fate. 

Gu.vcK C'liiiu'ii. Slm.iva.n's 1si..v.ni>. — Tills was a iiriek iiuild- 
ing, originally erected for a lazaretto. It was j)urehased in 
1810, and foi-nied into a Parish Chunh for the l-'iiiseojialians 
who made the island their home during tho summer. When 
the houses on the island were removed to give place to those 
formiduMe batteries which, for four years, protected the har- 
bor from hostile fleets, the Church was exposed to the chances 
of war. When the United States forces estal'lishcd tiieir bat- 
teries on Morris Island, the Church then came in reach of 
their shells, which ricblled roof and door, and consumed tho 
wood work. 

Its roofless walls still lift up their solemn sides iu the silcnco 
of the scene. Houses and population have both (lisapi)eared 
Tho green earth-works with their frowning guns, cover the 
site of the once jiopulous village — but you may walk along 
their entire length without meeting soldier or citizen, or hear- 
ing any sound save the ceaseless roll of the sea. 

There is u strange and painful solitude reigning around those 
shores, wliero once our citi/^ens flocked to stroll along tho crowd 
ed beach; and a more solemn silence reigning over those mas- 
sive works, whose thundei-s shook our city by day and night. 
Is this desolation the sure wages of war"? 

The few families who inhabit the Island are chiefly Irish 
liomanists. Xo members of uur Cliurch remain, n"r is there any 
prospect of its revival. 

CiiKi.sT CiiURCU P.\uisii. — The old Church, six miles fi-om 
Chaileston. hij- Just within the lines on the ea-l "f Ibf <il\'. and 



12 

was ofciipiod bj- tbe ConfodiTatc troojis. It received some dam- 
ago from them. But after tbe evacuation of the city, its ruiu 
was completed liy tlie I'ederal soldiers; jiews, pulpit, floors, 
doors and windows were destroyed, and the brick walls cut 
through in many places. 

History has reproduced itself in this old Church. It was 
desecrated b}- the British in the Eevolutioii, and their cavali-y 
stabled within it. The Federal troops put it to the same use 
when stationed in the vicinity. It stills lies desolate, its open 
tloors affording shelter to the stray cattle and to the birds of 
the air. Its fund of §G000 is nearly worthless. 

St. .Tohn's Berkeley. — Previous to the war no Parish in the 
Pioeese was lietter prepared to take care of its clergyman. 
It owned a rice plantation which rented for twelve hundred, 
sometimes for fifteen hundred dollars per annum, and about 
ten thousand dollars in stocks. It owned a winter parsonage 
and a summer residence for its minister, in a healthj' position. 
I'ut almost all this has gone. Biggin Church was mucli injured 
and its walls defaced; all the pews, the desk and chancel rails 
were lorn down and burnt. The congrecation is not revived, 
except by a monthly service. 

The Churches on the seabord north of Charleston fai'ed better 
than those which liorc the brunt of the invasion. 

The two CnuRCiiES on North an'd South Santee escaped, 
though they were stripped of furniture, organ and all movables. 
The Church plate Avas stolen, but the set belonging to St. 
.Tames' was recovered by application to a Federal officer com- 
manding a gunboat on the river. The Bible and prayer book 
(the gift of Picbecca Jlotte, of revolutionary fame,) were saved. 
The Bible was stolen by British soldiers, at the close of the 
Pcvolution, and carried to London for sale. It was exposed in 
a bookseller's stall, where the owner's name attracted the notice 
of William Bull, former Lieutenant Governor of the Province 
of South Carolina, by whom it was purchased and restored to 
the Church. No service has been resumed in either Parish, 
nor do their means afford any present prospect of supporting 
a clergyman. 

The five Churches at Georgetoavn and Waccamaw suffered 
less, onlv two of them losing Ihcii' cariuHs and furniture. Hut 



13 

llu' i)r"isiri»li"iii i>r ilu- oiu-i' tlourisliiiiij ( 'liiirclii's on Wai'iiiinuw 
is conipli'lo. Tlioy ciiiitiiiiuMl mure woultlt tlmii any iillicr rural 
I'arisli in Soiiili Carolina, oi- ])i'riia|is in the South. Thi-i-o wcir 
the lionios of the hir^ost riio iihintorson this I'ontlnent. Tiii-i'" 
provision for tho tcinporul iiiul spiritual welfare of their slaves 
was a standard to otlier planters. Numerous chapels, built hy 
the proprietors for the use of their pen])le. ailorned the estates, 
where the services of our Church were as well performed as in 
any other congregation in the land. The faithful lahoi-s of 
their revered I'astor. JJev. A. (Jlennie. for thirty years, hati 
wrought blessed results, aided by the systematic teachings of 
the plantei-s and their families. Hundreds of the colored race 
were communicants of our Church — thousanils of colored 
ciiiltlren recited the catechism, and answered as intelligently as 
any of llieir ago in Kumpe or America; and the Lord's work 
.seemed prosjiering and sure. Alas, for tho change in five or 
six years! Poverty has overtaken these desolated homes; the 
rice lields, rich as any land between tho Mississippi and the 
Nile, lie desolate; their former laborers cai\ scarcely be imliuiil 
to work. 

Their religious deterioration is painlul. They have lorsakeii 
the way wiiirh they had learned, and taken to themselves 
teachers of their own color. Fanaticism ami extravagance rule 
in their religious as.scmblies to su<-ii an extent as to require the 
aid of the military to keep order and repress violence. There 
are indications of a return to African bar!>arism. There is no 
reliiiious services re-established in the three Churciies on "Wac- 
camaw. The plantei-s an- bankrujit ; tlieir houses ilespoiled; 
their costly libraries torn to pieces orshippetl to Northern jiorls. 
Wiiat :fOod the Lonl may work out of tho jiresont confusion we 
know not ; but to human eyes the present state of tilings is only 
evil to both races which inliabit these beautiliil shores.* 

The other Ciiurches between the seabord and Columbia, at 
Barnwell. Pincville, Sumter, Itichland and Orangeburg escaped 
destruction, but received more or less damage. 

CnaisT CiiUttcii, Coi.t.MiiiA, shared tho tiile ol that beautiful 
city wlien burnt by (ieneral Shernmn's army in Kebnniry, 1S(J5. 

• >;oTK. .\rrn!;<'nii'nt.« linvo jii»t bwii mmlo willi tin- Ki-clKr <«f Prinrt- 

Kn-ili-rick''* I*:iri"li. to li.ijil ii mnnllily •••r\iii' in nin- ..f llu- Cliiirrlii's on 
W'acvamnvf. 



14 

With the (.'Xfcjitiou dI' its older sister in that eity, it was tlic 
hirgost and handsomest Cimrch in tlie diocese, outside of 
Charleston. It was conseerated in 1859, and was in the lieinlit 
of its prosperity. The Chureli -with its organ, eaqjcts, hooks 
and all that it eontained, was destroyed in that fearful night. 
The loss to the congregation amounted to S30.000. A disputed 
title to the lot on which the orginal Church stood has involved 
tliem in ailditioiial losses, and the removal of many of their 
members in the depopulation of Columbia has reduced to the 
lowest ebb this once flourishing congregation. The tew survi- 
vors find themselves quite unable to support a minister. Their 
services are maintained by the aid of the Domestic Board of 
Missions. The destruction of this Church may be considered 
the heaviest blow to the welfare of our diocese. 

Trinity Ciiuitcii. Columbia, suffered the loss of its ])i(turesquc 
parsonage, which was burnt, as well as the Sunday School house, 
with their contents, including the records of the Parish from its 
oi-ganization. The loss to the Church amounts to $9,000 or $10,- 
000. 

The communion plate, a valuable set, was forcibly taken from 
the Eector, by a band of soldier.?, as he was endeavoring to 
carry it from his burning house to a place of safety. It has 
never been recovered. 

St. Jonx's Church, Winnsboro'. — This Chui-ch was wanton- 
jj' burnt by Shern\an's troops, on their march through Winns- 
boro'. The jjublic square was destroyed, but the Church was 
not touched bj- that fire. It was on the outskirts of the town 
in a large lot, and was deliljerately set on fire by the soldiers, 
after the central square was consumed. The organ, furniture, 
books, and all the Church property perished. It has invol- 
ved a small congregation in a loss of S5000. Their services 
are maintained, and there is some prospect of relniilding the 
Church — the only instance in the diocese of any such proposal. 
Its bell has an interesting history. It was the survivor of the 
chime once l)elonging to the old Chuirh at Dorchester. When 
that Church was deserted, the liells were loaned to St. Paul's, 
Charleston. This one at length found its way to Winnsboro', 
and perished witli so many records of the past in our disastrous 
conflict. 



15 

(iit.MK Cm 111 II. Cwiukn. — Tlir (.'liiircli <m;i|iiiI ibiil ll;l^. 
uiili>i-(iiiiitl(.-ly. bi'fii burnt in llic lii^t year); llio lJislio|i'M 
rcsi<li"iii-c was rospi-cU'il ; but tlio brick biiiblini; owin-d b}- tho 
Cliurrli. and biaiu'd to tlio TlR'i>loi;ical .Si-ininarv, was burnt ly 
inci-ndiarios alter tho troups itasM^I tbroiifjli. The i;rcatt'r jiai t 
of tbo lilirary boloiif^inic to tbo Soi-ic(y for tlic ndvaiu-unu'iit of 
C'liri.stianity in Soutli Carolina was thus (U'stroyod. Tbc loss to 
llu' si'iniiiary ami the dioccst- is licavy, for this library was llic 
nct-uniulation of tH\y yoai's, and contaiiied inan_\' raiv and rostly 
Intoks, whose money value it is impossible to estimate. 

St. n.wiKS Cmitni. CiiK.n.wv. — Was the last Church in the 
eiistern part of the ■^lat^■ in the line of the Federal invasion. It 
wa.s seriously dainai^><l by an explosion of ainniuiiilion near it, 
and tlooi-s. windows, and |iart of the wall shattered. Tho 
C'hureh jilale was stolen, with Inudis and furniture, and its on- 
flosure torn down. Hut the Clninh is habitable, and it- wor- 
ship continue-. 

To sum up the losses of the dioceso it a]i|icars: 

That ten Churehes have been biirnl ; 

That three have disapi)eaivd ; 

That twenty-two Parishes are Mi-pendeil ; 

That eleven parsonai;es have been burnt : that every Chureh 
between llio Savannah Hiver and Charleston has been injured, 
some stripped eyen of weatherdjoardinj; and flooring: that ahnost 
every minister in that rejjion of the Slate has lost lionie and libra- 
ry ; that aloii;^ the entire seaboard, fi'oin North Carolina tir (leor- 
jjift, when' our Church had flourished lor more than a century, 
there are but four Parishes which maintain religious .services; that 
not one, outside the city of Charleston, can be called a living, 
self-sustaining Parish ; that their Clorg}' live by fishing, tunning, 
and mechanie arts ; and that almost every Chureh, whose his- 
tory ajipeai's on tiiis record, has lo.st il.s eomiiiiinion plate, often 
a ma.ssive and venerable .set, tiie donation of an Knglish or Col- 
onial ancestor. 

Our J>ioce-ian fumls have -harol the fate of all Southern 
investments. 

Tho Society for relief of the wiclow* and orphans o|' the 
Clergy has lost « 100,000. 

Tbo Society for advancement of Christianity in South Car<di- 
na has l.i-t .^rii; nno. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



IB 



013 703 653 8|^ 

irciRTal SoiiiiiKirv (maiiilaiiied 



the total loss of vostcd Dioecs- 



Thc JSislioi) s luiul, §18,(100. 

The three Scholarships in tli; 
\>y this Diocese.) §10,000; makiiii. 
an funds S184,000. 

]\rany of the older Cliurehes also owned Bonds and Stocks, 
which have been sadly reduced or rendered worthless. From 
partial returns these losses amount to lj[)8,00(l. 

The pecuniary losses minht be repaired if the diocese was 
as in daj-s gone bj'. But in its present impoverished condition, 
no hope remains of speedy restoration. This generation can 
scarcely behold it. 

May the God of all grace grant us, in faith and patience, to 
trj- and build again the waste places of Zion. "0 Lord of 
Hosts, look down from Heaven, behold and visit this vine, 
which tliy right hand hath planted." "It hath been burnt 
with fire, and the wild boar out of the wood doth root it uji.' 
•' Comfort us again after the time that thou has plagued us and 
lor the years wherein we have sufl'ered adversity.'' "Show thj- 
servants thj' work, and their children thy glory." Prosper 
thou the work of our hands, " O, prosper thou our handy work!" 

C. C. PIXClvNEY, 
PETER J. SHANU, 
PAUL TEAPIEPv. 



\ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 703 653 8 « 



